The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury has officially announced its commitment to implementing the National Treasury Instruction No. 4 of 2026/27. This directive is a strategic move designed to conduct a comprehensive verification of all government employees across the province, effectively targeting the eradication of ghost workers and addressing irregularities within the public service payroll system.
Strengthening financial governance and integrity
MEC Francois Rodgers has underscored the importance of this initiative, positioning it as a fundamental step toward bolstering financial governance and building a more capable and ethical state.
According to the MEC, this rigorous process is aimed at reinforcing institutional accountability, significantly improving the integrity of employee data, and ensuring the responsible use of public funds. By identifying and removing unauthorised entries from the payroll, the provincial government seeks to curtail the escalating public sector salary bill.
The verification process explained
The verification process is structured to be thorough and transparent. Affected public servants will be required to confirm their identities and verify their employment details via a dedicated online platform. To facilitate this, each employee will receive a unique QR code on their payslips to access the system.
The portal is scheduled to open on 15 June 2026, remaining accessible for a two-month period. During this time, individual departments are mandated to provide necessary support to employees navigating the transition. Following this online phase, any identified anomalies will be subjected to further physical verification by the respective departments.
Ensuring compliance and service delivery
The KZN Treasury has signaled its readiness to assist all provincial departments in achieving full compliance with these new requirements. Officials have emphasised that this exercise is a standard administrative procedure aimed at enhancing record accuracy and ensuring that public resources are effectively directed toward service delivery prioritises. Consequently, public servants are encouraged to participate fully, with the Treasury clarifying that participation does not inherently imply any wrongdoing by the individual.